Union County voters will decide in November whether to add a penny to every dollar spent locally, with the money proposed for school building projects. The Union County School District's sales tax proposal would appear on the November 3 ballot and is projected to generate $60 million for capital needs across eight school facilities, according to the school district.
What the Ballot Question Actually Asks
The 1% Education Capital Improvements sales tax would not last forever — district officials have said the tax would not last longer than 15 years, as reported by FOX Carolina. The measure reached the ballot after the Union County School Board voted unanimously, 7-0, on July 27, 2026, to approve a formal resolution placing the referendum before voters, according to meeting minutes reviewed by the Union County School District. The bond attorney was present and available for questions at that session.
The tax only became an option for Union County after state lawmakers passed Act 203, also known as H. 4589, in May 2026. The legislation amended eligibility rules for the Education Capital Improvements sales tax, and state fiscal analysts identified Union County and Dorchester County as the only counties meeting the new requirements, per the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Previously, state law restricted which counties could impose this type of tax based on existing tax structures and accommodations tax revenue.
How the Money Is Intended to Be Used
The proposed tax is described as an Education Capital Improvements tax for facility upgrades and capital projects.
The tax would fund projects at eight facilities: Monarch Elementary School, Buffalo Elementary School, Foster Park Elementary School, Jonesville Elementary/Middle School, Sims Middle School, Union County Achievement Academy, Union County Career Center, and Union County High School, according to the district's account relayed by FOX Carolina. The outlet reported that it reached out to the superintendent for more information about the specific projects planned at each site.
How Much Money Are We Talking About
State revenue estimates from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office in April 2026 indicated the tax would generate annual collections similar to the county's existing Local Option Sales Tax, which produced $4,038,810 in fiscal year 2024–2025. That figure offers an independent fiscal benchmark separate from the district's own $60 million projection over the life of the 15-year tax, though the state estimate's discussion of a food-sales exception concerns Dorchester County's ECI tax.
The proposed education sales tax is a local measure for school capital projects. It is distinct from other local tax measures.
A District Already in Transition
The referendum arrives as Union County School District navigates a leadership change. Superintendent Joey Haney announced his planned retirement effective June 30, 2026, according to Union County Schools.
Alongside the proposed capital projects, the district continues to manage its regular operations.
Existing District Operations
Even as it plans new capital spending, the district continues to manage its regular operations.
Union County's proposed tax concerns school capital needs and would be decided by voters.
